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Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 12:30 am
by henry_the_horse
drumbob wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:16 am
Can somebody explain the attraction to flatwound strings on Rick
12 strings?
In 1964 a Rickenbacker 360/12 would have come from the factory
strung with Rickenbacker set 483 which was flatwound, low
tension, round core. That is the sound of the Beatles and Byrds
on that year.
242_foxtrot wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 9:14 pm
I've been using Pyramid 308/12 extra extra light strings. Round
core and very flexible. String sizes E .039/.025, A .032/.019, D
.026/.013, G .019/.010, B.013/.013, E .010/.010.
Pyramid 308/12 is the modern set most similar to Rickenbacker 483.
Code: Select all
============================================================================
Year Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wd. Alloy
============================================================================
1964 Rickenbacker 483 0.010 0.013 0.023 0.026 0.032 0.038 F 430
0.010 0.013 0.010 0.013 0.023 0.026 F 430
2021 Pyramid 308/12 0.010 0.013 0.020 0.025 0.033 0.039 F 304
0.010 0.013 0.010 0.013 0.020 0.025 F 304
============================================================================
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2023 8:44 pm
by iiipopes
I don't know what the attraction to flats on a 12-string is, either. I use custom gauges D'Addario XL rounds:
9-9; 11 1/2-11 1/2; 18w-8; 24w-10 1/2; 32w-14; 42w-22w. (Yes, D'A does make the half-gauge singles.)
These gauges intonate perfectly on a traditional six-saddle bridge, with one exception: the low E string. So I purchased a saddle and custom-filed it so that the unison string intonates off the back, or tailpiece edge of the saddle and the octave string intonates off the front, or fretboard edge of the saddle.
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:48 am
by kennyhowes
.039 for a low E string. I guess don’t knock it until you try it, but that seems awfully light.
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2023 2:48 pm
by iiipopes
kennyhowes wrote: Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:48 am
.039 for a low E string. I guess don’t knock it until you try it, but that seems awfully light.
The original gauges for a whammy Strat were the Fender 150 "Rock 'N Roll" set 10 13 15 26w 32w 38w.
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:58 pm
by henry_the_horse
kennyhowes wrote: Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:48 am
.039 for a low E string. I guess don’t knock it until you try
it, but that seems awfully light.
The gauges of Rickenbacker set 483 come from set 410, introduced
in 1953. Except that set 483 had a wound 3rd and was flatwound.
Code: Select all
================================================================
Year Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wd. Alloy
================================================================
1953 410 0.010 0.013 0.017 0.026 0.032 0.038 R 430
1964 483 0.010 0.013 0.023 0.026 0.032 0.038 F 430
0.010 0.013 0.010 0.013 0.023 0.026 F 430
================================================================
1953 catalog showing set 410.
1966 price list showing sets 410 and 483.
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:41 am
by Blomp
I don't (yet) own a Ric 12 string but I do prefer flatwounds on my danelectro. that guitar is very, VERY bright and thin sounding, and the flats help to strengthen the definition of the fundamental tone. I find you still get plenty of the classic 'jangle', just the shimmering overtones don't dominate the sound quite so much. I use rounds on my epiphone double neck, because that has really quite dark sounding pickups.
If I did have a Ric 12, I'd probably want to use roundwounds - the 'definitive' 12 string sound for me is Dave Gregory's 12 string sound on XTC's "english settlement" album - and that's a 360-12 with hi-gains and roundwound strings.
Re: What's The Attraction To Flatwounds On The 12 Strings?
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:00 pm
by akpasta
I sort of split the difference and use GHS pure nickel rollerwound strings for the wounds on my 360/12. They’re half way between round and flat. I also assemble the sets myself from single strings for what seems to work best on my instrument, which has very very short frets.
My set is as follows
9/9, 11/11, 8/20w, 26/11, 36/20p, 44/26
I’ve tried TI flats and they didn’t work for me, but at that time I hadn’t switched to the janglebox and didn’t have my guitar set up quite right so that might be why.
I’d like to try flats again but I don’t want to adjust my truss rod cuz I’ve got everything totally dialed for the strings I use. Flats of the same gauge seem to carry more tension so I can’t just buy the same gauge in flatwound. however I see a previous commenter pointed out they use really light flat wound strings and appreciate the input. Given the gauges I shared above what gauge flats do you think would be comparable, tension-wise?